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Stormers keen to get Grant back into action

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee is likely to rush former Springboks first five-eighths Peter Grant into his side to play the Crusaders in their Investec Super Rugby match in Christchurch on Saturday.

Grant was named for the tour provided his Japanese club Kobe were knocked out of their competition and he was hoping he would be in Christchurch when they arrived from South Africa.

But whether he starts or comes off the bench will depend on how quickly he can assimilate changed Stormers strategies.

While he has been reluctant to play Grant as an immediate starter in the past, it is a concern over the lack of direction seen so far from his side that could determine his decision.

However, the Stormers had to leave behind Argentine lock Manuel Carizza who is out for eight weeks due to a wrist injury. But the return of De Kock Steenkamp was seen as compensation for his loss.

Poor lineout play has been one of the problems for the below-par Stormers this season.

Flanker Schalk Burger faces a challenge for a place in the side. He was forced out of the side that beat the Hurricanes at the weekend and saw Deon Fourie continue his fine form while Siya Kolisi on the blindside flank continued to impress with his play there.

Coetzee is confident his side can do well on their tour which also pits them against the Chiefs, Brumbies and Reds.

He felt the match-winning try against the Hurricanes by Deon Fourie showed the level of trust among his players.

"The classic lineout try shows the trust in the team – we'd lost five lineouts, we lost the previous lineout there, and the captain called again for a mauling try.

"That is why I am proud of the Stormers team. And I see things and glimpses of three or four years ago where we scraped out wins, we started winning narrowly and we got the confidence and momentum.

"So yes, from that perspective [a] massive win for us – this is what we needed. You want to go on tour in this sort of fashion," he said.

But he is aware of the challenge ahead. The Stormers have never beaten the Crusaders in New Zealand.

"The Crusaders will be hurting, and they are a formidable team at home."